MLK Committee requests annual budget allotment

“The reason I say this is there have been some indictments recently in our area for people spending public funds for certain things. I want to make sure we are constitutionally on grounds that we are legally bound to do,” said Councilman Troy Colquitt.

Mary Clark, representing the Martin Luther King Jr. committee once again asked council members to consider placing the organization on the annual budget.

In doing so, Clark told the mayor and council members the event has grown exponentially over the 23 years and asked for an increase from $500 to $1,000 per year to the cause.

“I look forward to our continuing and enduring relationship,” said Clark as she named the mayor and each councilman by name.

Councilman Troy Colquitt asked City Attorney Steve Jenkins to look into laws and ordinances governing the city donating to charitable organizations.

“We give funds to different organizations and different things and I would like the city attorney to research the constitution and see what requirements that we need to be presented back to us as far as where this money is spent and what kind of facts we need and what kind of monthly reports we need,” said Colquitt. “The reason I say this is there have been some indictments recently in our area for people spending public funds for certain things. I want to make sure we are constitutionally on grounds that we are legally bound to do.”

Mayor Larry Guest then asked Jenkins to research the issue and return to council with his findings at the next meeting. Council members took no action on Clark’s request at the meeting.

By unanimous vote, Willie Hall and Toshia Dunbrack were selected as directors representing the city on the Downtown Development Authority.

One consent agenda item approved the sale of malt beverages at Bay 6 on the public square.

During a Saturday retreat this past weekend, council members also heard reports from various projects now underway.

According to City Manager Lanier Dunn, the city will complete a $2.5 million water project which began two years ago. Dunn said the project would conclude in about six months. The city is also in the process of upgrading equipment at both treatment plants. The $1.4 million project began last November and will conclude in the fall.

A $2 million project to replace the bare steel gas lines is also underway. The project is replacing over 14 miles of gas line mains with plastic lines. The new lines have a life expectancy of 100 years. Phase one of the project was completed in October and phase two is now underway. Phase three, which is mostly downtown, begins and concludes this summer.

The new bridge (or culvert) over the creek on Lake Forest Drive has now been put to bid. The project calls for the installation of two 72-inch pipes, replacing one 60-inch pipe.

According to Dunn, a quarter of the city’s water runoff flows through the creek and under the culvert. “Everything from Railroad Street south and from McIntosh Street west flows through that pipe,” said Dunn.

Repair on the walking bridge in Sutton Park is almost complete, said Dunn.

The city has planted trees and is working on getting grass to grow at Carey Street Park. The city took over the property from the Board of Education after the old Stevens School was replaced. Once grass has been established Dunn said the park would be open to the public.

ElbertonNet has greatly increased download and upload speeds for existing customers. Download speeds have jumped from 8 Mbps to 200 Mbps and upload speeds are now 20 Mbps as opposed to the previous 4 Mbps. There was no price increase for the increased speeds.